Saturday, March 16, 2024

Shop Stool Patterns For Sale

05 Mar 24: 

Shop stool paper patterns are for sale, taken directly from our time tested templates. $30 USD gets a set of full size paper patterns with assembly instructions to your door. 


To order a set, send us an email at lewis dot kent at gmail. Paypal or check.

Monday, March 11, 2024

Four-Oared Gig AMERICAN STAR Plans from Mystic Seaport

11 Mar 24:

AMERICAN STAR is a 27' 3" Four-Oared Gig built in 1820 by the Chambers Brothers of Brooklyn in the "Whitehall" style, as in Whitehall Street of lower Manhattan. We ordered plans from Mystic Seaport that were developed from lines taken off the original boat, which is located outside of Paris at the estate of General Lafayette.  



AMERICAN STAR was given to the Marquis in 1825 as he finished his victory tour of the the young United States..all 24 of them.

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

New To Us Shaw & Tenney Flat Blade Oars

05 Mar 24:

Found some gently used Shaw & Tenney flat blade oars, 7 1/2 footers with nice leathers. Will they fit on the Abaco Dinghy HENNING. We'll find out and report back.


Fair Wind Fasteners

 05 Mar 24:

We get our silicon bronze from Fair Wind Fasteners, they ship small quantities and they ship fast. real fast. Great customer service, real people who answer emails and phone calls and have actually used their products. Here's part of what they have to say about the customer oriented business: 

"We're not the cheapest, but we do provide the best. I've travelled around the globe and received numerous fastener samples from manufacturers and have chosen only the best to be carried here at Fair Wind. At this point in time the marine industry has welcomed us with open arms, and we now supply not only high quality silicon bronze fasteners, but have expanded in to copper and 316 Stainless Steel fasteners in order to serve a larger portion of the marine market. We're regularly supplying boatbuilding companies, boatbuilding colleges, and factory OEMs with quality marine fasteners, but will always give the same attention and service to a DIYer, because that's how we started!"

We're one of those DIYers they mention, and our little Nutshell Pram Excuse me is Fair Wind Fastener-ed.

FMI: Fair Wind Fasteners

Monday, March 4, 2024

Creeks, Nook and Crannies

28 Feb 24:

Here's a close up of some of the creeks, nooks and crannies that we'll be exploring, just off the southern end of the James River. The "Pagan River" is an impostor, its European name from the early 17th Century John Smith map was Warraskoyack, for the local indigenous Algonquin tribe of the Powhatan Confederacy. Later the name was changed to Pagan, reportedly the native word for pecan and it was a creek. Later again local officials decided that Pagan Creek didn't sound important enough to attract dredging money for steamboats, so now it's called Pagan River. 


 

Penobscot 14 ST. JACQUES Mess About

22 Feb 24:

We took ST. JACQUES out to be the photo ship for a Small Boats Nation article on a push pole duck bill attachment, she had a good time mucking about in the reeds. Skipper took the photos and I rowed for a little bit. 


We're in about 12 inches of water here, ST. JACQUES needs 8 with her centerboard and rudder up. 


Henning, the mariner who previously owned the 12 foot push pole, marked the pole with tape, starting around 3 feet or so. There is a yellow mark around 3 feet and another at about 5 1/2 feet. Our guess is the lower yellow mark indicated enough clearance for Henning's keel boat the top yellow mark could be for when the water was over his head...that's how we would have marked it. Henning used the pole as needed to get his boat in and out of the tidal creek behind his home.


Our Ford Edge ST SUPER SANDY got the tow vehicle honors. 


Back at the Shack, telling Sea Stories to the rest of the Armada.


Thursday, February 29, 2024

Shaw & Tenney Oars

29 Feb 24:

Wandering through fb Marketplace we found a nice set of gently used Shaw & Tenney oars, 7 1/2 feet flat blade style. Picked them up for a very fair price, and we'll see whether they'll fit on the little Abaco dinghy HENNING. 

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

New Warraskoyack Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association (TSCA) & First Newsletter

28 Feb 24: Warraskoyack Chapter March/April/May/June 2024 Newsletter

Scuttlebutt:

1. Our Warraskoyack Chapter of the TSCA is officially formed! Now what?

2. Kent and Skipper are working on a 1965 Alcort Catfish,  1964 Alcort Sunfish and 1930s Abaco Dinghy. Also on the list is to get the Suzuki 6 hung back on Skipper's Drascombe Lugger ONKAHYE and get ONKAHYE's keel wet soon, probably from the Clontz Park ramp in Smithfield. Maybe taunt the lunch crowd at Smithfield Station?


Our Penobscot 14 ST. JACQUES took a dip at Jones Creek so we could shoot photos of a push pole with duckbill attachment for the March issue of Small Boats Nation. No spoilers until after the article is published on Friday.


3. Steve and his beautiful Welsford Pathfinder SPARTINA are messing about down south, last seen visiting Webb Chiles in Hilton Head. 

4. Mike M. has all the scoop on Deltaville and is working with the Mathews Maritime Foundation and Colonial Seaport Foundation, plus the Coast Guard Auxiliary. When not being pressed into service on other boats, he messes about in his 7' 7" Nutshell Pram. Maybe we need to set up a Nutshell Regatta :) 

5. John Y. is getting a Lincolnville Salmon Wherry built by Walt Simmons, we can't wait to see that!

6. We'd like to set up a get together at one of our many great local maritime museums. Who's gonna be first? Deltaville...Reedville...Mariners'...Jamestown...Nauticus...Chesapeake Bay...?

Calendar:

March

21-24 - Sunnyland Antique and Classic Boat Society Festival
Antique and Classic Boat Society
Lake Dora, Tavares, FL

April

Beaufort, SC

26-28 Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show
Annapolis, MD

May

North Carolina Maritime Museum
Beaufort, NC

Jamestown Settlement
Williamsburg, VA


Chesapeake Light Craft
Centreville, MD

15-19 Florida 120
Pensacola, FL

Mystic Seaport Museum 
Mystic, CT

Cedar Key, FL

June

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
St Michaels, MD

??-?? Harborfest
Norfolk, VA

Mystic Seaport
Mystic, CT

About:

The Warraskoyack Chapter retraces the water trails of the indigenous Powhatan tribes on the lower Chesapeake watershed and the upper Outer Banks.  

Membership is free to any member of TSCA.

Chapter POC: Kent Lewis, (850) 449-4841, lewis.kent@gmail.com

Members:
Audrey
Kent
Mike M.
Steve E.
John Y.

For more information on our local waters, please visit our Smithfield Trading Town blog at https://smithfieldseaport.blogspot.com/


Old News:

28 Feb 24:

We just received notification that the Traditional Small Craft Association (TSCA) National Council approved our Warraskoyack  Chapter. 

A little information on the indigenous Warraskoyack area:

"The Warraskoyack Indians, members of the Powhatan paramount chiefdom, lived near the mouth of the Pagan River and along its tributaries, near modern day Smithfield Virginia. Their town of Mokete likely stood in the vicinity of present-day Rescue, while Mathomouk town was probably situated along Burwell Bay close to Rushmere. The principal settlement of Warraskoyack was located farther inland, perhaps east of modern day Smithfield and west of Jones Creek.

The Warraskoyak were an Algonquian-speaking tribe in Tsenacommacah. The Warraskoyak werowance, Tackonekintaco, paid tribute to paramount chief Powhatan. The homeland of the Warraskoyak provided easy access to oysters and fish from the river. It had been occupied for at least 5,500 years. Sea level rise at the end of the last Ice Age drowned the mouth of the Pagan River, and the resulting wetlands were valued food sources for Native Americans long before the evolution of the Warraskoyak tribe. 

Inland, across the watershed divide separating the James and Blackwater rivers, hunting and gathering opportunities were rich in what today are labeled Pettit and Belle Meadow pocosins and Pouches, Passenger, and Rattlesnake swamps. In those swamps and woods, the Warraskoyak must have encountered Iroquoian-speaking Nottaway hunters coming up the Blackwater River. 

The Algonquian-speaking Quiyoughcohannock lived to their west, upstream on the James River beyond Hog Island. The powerful Algonquian-speaking Nansemond tribe, with 200 warriors according to John Smith, lived downstream on the Nansemond River with a "kings house" on Dumplin Island. The size of the Nansemond tribe would have deterred the Warraskoyak from conflict, if those neighbors chose to hunt near Mokete, Mathomauk, or the king's house of the Warraskoyak. From those three towns, the Warraskoyack found it easy to canoe out into the James (Powhatan Flu) River to trade with the English. They welcomed visitors from Jamestown, bypassing Powhatan with direct trade of food for metal tools and prestige goods. At John Smith's request, they hosted Samuel Collier, an English boy so he could learn the Algonquian language and facilitate trade and diplomacy. 

In early 1608, the Warraskoyack allowed a Paspahegh guide to lead two Jamestown colonists into their territory to search for survivors of the "lost colony" on Roanoke Island. Later that year, they assisted another searcher, Michael Sicklemore, to journey towards the Chowan River on another futile expedition."

The Warraskoyack Chapter will explore our local rivers and creeks, retracing the water trails of the indigenous First People. We'll also venture out to other spots on the Chesapeake watershed, the upper Outer Banks and our many inland rivers.  

Membership is free to any member of TSCA, and if we'll put out a quarterly newsletter.

For more information on our local waters, please visit our Smithfield Trading Town blog at https://smithfieldseaport.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

LEAF Wins the Wet Pants Award

 27 Feb 24:

The little wooden Sunfish named CHIP that we sent out to Pt Townsend had fun at the Shipwright's Regatta last weekend. Her new name is LEAF, Mastered and Commandered by Emiliano now, he gave her a repaint, fixed a few small leaks and made her beautiful sail. Emiliano reports that LEAF nad her crew won the coveted "Wet Pants" award. And her innards were dry and dusty afterwards. Go LEAF!



Monday, February 26, 2024

New Hat

26 Feb 24:

 Capn jack always said "Take 2 hats." Skipper has plenty from WoodenBoat Launchings and Relaunchings, she's in the latest issue with our Nutshell Pram EXCUSE ME.


And we got stickers too!

New Launchings Hat from WoodenBoat

26 Feb 24:

 The little Nutshell Pram EXCUSE ME was one of the boats featured in the Launchings section of WoodenBoat Magazine No. 297, and as reward the folks in Brooklin, Maine sent us 2 nice hats,  a nice letter, a copy of the article and 2 stickers. That was very kind and we appreciate the though put behind the custom stitching of the hats.

The hats are my favorite, made of a very soft prewashed cotton. The hat also has a low crown and comfortable leather adjustment strap on the back, so they'll stay secure in a blow. 

And if you're not currently building a wooden boat, they can be purchased from the WoodenBoat Store.

Thursday, February 22, 2024

THIXO Gasket

22 Feb 24:

The previous attachment on this pole had a smaller diameter, so one choice was to cut the pole end off and reshape the end. Instead we filled the 1/8th inch gap with THIXO Pro. It dried very secure, no need for the little screw.


When it comes time to replace the attachment, we'll use an oscillating multitool to gently cut the metal loose. 

Tool Time

22 Feb 24:

It's Winter, so we buy tools. These will be used to build up a kit for outboard maintenance.

Sea Trials for a Push Pole

22 Feb 24:

Our Penbscot 14 ST. JACQUES got to play in the marsh today, we took her out to be the test platform for a push pole. The pole and its new foot worked great. Here's a photo of ST. JACQUES back at the Sunfish telling tall tales and proudly showing the marsh grass stuck in the centerboard trunk.


The push pole review will be in the March issue of Small Boats Nation.

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Skipper's "Pirating About" Chandlery Open for Barter and Trade

21 Feb 24:

Skipper is offering barter and trade items through her chandlery named Pirating About.

The first items in stock are vintage bronze knees and oarlock sockets and a random bracket.



1/2 inch diameter oarlock (rollock) sockets.




For the knees, $175 USD 
For the oarlock sockets, $100 USD 
Shipping included in CONUS.
We'll also barter for cash
FMI: email lewis dot kent at gmail 

Need a boat to go with them? We can do that also.

Cheers,
Clark and Skipper

Monday, February 19, 2024

Sea Stories: The Green Dolphin by Cap'n Bilge Rat

19 Feb 24:

Green Dolphin was a 47ft German built yacht, deep keel, low freeboard, beautiful graceful lines, Oak on steel frames with a heavy lead keel.
She was hit by a shop in Torbay UK and sank instantly. 
John Watkinson, the owner of Kelly and Halls Boatyard at Newton Ferrers heard about the boat and decided to attempt a salvage operation. The 18ft open yard launch was powered by a twin cylinder air cooled Lister diesel, this was connected to a salvage pump driven via a pulley system from the crankshaft. They motored around the coast to Torbay with a crew of 2 plus a scuba diver. Arriving at the wreck site, the diver established that Green Dolphin was lying on a sandy bottom, intact, but with a severely damaged bow. The diver used a handsaw to remove some of the jagged edged, then attached a thick canvas tarpaulin over the gaping hole as well as possible, after which, several airbags were attached to lifting strops around the hull and slowly inflated. As the boat came to the surface, the salvage pump was put to work, fortunately, it had the capacity to exceed the water entering the hull whilst the canvas tarpaulin was made more secure and a closer fit, nailing battens over the edges and to the hull. The salvage pump was now capable of easily removing water from the hull to keep it afloat. The next task was to remove all the sails, rigging and damaged masts etc, lightening the boat and greatly improving the stability, essential for the long slow tow back to Newton Ferrer's. 
The salvage pump worked continuously for the whole journey, arrival at the Boatyard coincided as planned with the high tide, which made it easier to get Green Dolphin into a cradle waiting at the bottom of the slipway.
It had been a long and tiring day, so the boat and cradle were well secured in position, ready to be looked at the following day, when a plan of the action would be decided upon.
The morning arrived, everyone at the Boatyard was out to work clearing the debris and detritus from inside the hull and the deck, this took a few days. The next stage was to hose the inside of the hull to clean the mud and sand, after which everything was left open to allow it to dry out. 
Initially, a chainsaw was taken to the bow to make a nice clean straight cut, to remove all the damaged planking. A plywood sheet was attached to firm a dirt of Praam bow, very idd looking on such a beautiful design, but it would make it watertight. Reinforcing was put in on all the steel frames, keel bolts checked and replaced, everywhere was thoroughly cleaned and painted, because Green Dolphin was going to be used as a houseboat until an extension for accommodation was added to the boatyard. When the extension was completed, Green Dolphin was used as a floating fuel station in the River Yealm, fuel was stored in deck in jerry cans and suspended when boats came alongside to refuel. However, the Harbour Authorities decided that was too dangerous and put a stop to it. 
Green Dolphins future was now in need of another rethink.
John Watkinson asked my brother John if he thought it was possible to put a new bow on the boat to restore the original lines. It was a big task, but John said he could do it, about 6 feet of planking, a new stem, deck beams, decking etc would have to be grafted onto the hull, but Green Dolphin was well worth restoring. The work was carried out with great success, including a complete re-rig to a Bermudan sail plan. The whole boat was restored to a very good standard and she proved to be fast and very capable, a delight sail.
I recall the day when at the age of 12, John Watkinson invited me to go for a day sailing on Green Dolphin, it was an exciting prospect, a day that I'll always remember. 
On board Green Dolphin were John Watkinson, my brother John, another friend of John Watkinson (I think he was also a John) and myself. We set off from the River Yealm and headed out to sea, the wind and sea conditions perfect, the sun shining in a blue sky. In the distance, we saw a Folkboat we knew and gave chase, easily showing a clean pair of heels as we passed by at around 15 knots, the defeat acknowledged gracefully by the owner of the Folkboat. 
Green Dolphin was a joy to sail, responsive to the helm, a fast and comfortable ride, but the day out had to end at some point, so we eventually headed back to the River Yealm. 
As we approach the mouth of the Yealm, the wind increased, we decided to have just one last exciting burst of speed, but that turned out to be something of a mistake. 
The entrance to the River Yealm is obstructed by a sandbar, there are two sets of leading marks on the hillside that have to be followed by all, except quite small boats, the sandbar is above the surface at low tide and easily seen.
It was a spring tide and ebbing fast, almost low water as we lined up on the first set of leading marks, we were sailing at around 11 knots and decided to start the small Petter diesel engine in readiness for reducing sail, the engine could just about push the boat along at 6 knots, unfortunately, it had been left in reverse gear, the sudden pressure against the propeller trying to make the boat go astern, whilst going ahead at 11 knots was a recipe for disaster. There was a very loud noise caused by the propeller shaft shearing, followed by the shaft sliding aft and fouling the rudder. This all happened in a matter of seconds, still sailing at speed and heading directly for the sandbar. My brother John dove into the engine compartment and with considerable effort managed to pull the shaft forward to clear the rudder, he grabbed a length of cod line, tied it around the shaft to keep it clear of the rudder, a difficult task in a very confined space. John Watkinson was a superb sailor and quick thinking, he decided that the only option to prevent running around on the sandbar was to sheet the sails in hard and heel over as much as possible, which we did. We crossed the sandbar with the scuppers well under water, the topsides white paint was scuffed as they touched the sandbar, with the keel bouncing across it. 
As soon as we cleared the sandbar, we had to change tack, but keep full sail to heel as much again, myself and the other crewman hung onto the clew of the Genoa as we went about, someone yelled "Whatever you do, don't let go!" we were both lifted off our feet and carried across the deck in a wide arc over the water, before the Genoa was sheeted in to return us from our flight back to the deck. Emergency over, the sails were eased as we casually made our way to the mooring. An exciting day, with a more exciting end and a great story to tell.

Doug (Cap' Bilge Rat) 

Next Career?

19 Feb 24:

20  years in the Marines, 24 at Delta Air Lines, on my Victory Lap. What's up next? Moveable ballast for one, Skipper's crew. 

 

VIRGINIA - First English Built Ship in the New World

19 Feb 24:

The pinnace VIRGINIA was the first ocean-going English ship built in the Americas at the Popham Colony, and she started a 400-year legacy of shipbuilding in the lower Kennebec River near modern day Bath Maine. Drawing by Sam Manning.

She's a good looking ship, and we hope to find more information on boats like her tender and the native canoes, most likely bark canoes.

Morgan's Riflemen

24 Feb 24:

Skipper and I are digging in to the American Revolution timeline, seeing as the 250th anniversary of July 4, 1776 is right around the corner. One of her ancestors was with Daniel Morgan's Riflemen at Sunny Point and Monmouth during his one year enlistment, and then participated as a Partisan for the duration. When it we get closer, maybe I can bribe Skipper into making me some replica clothing, especially the hunting frock. We're also digging into the small boating of the time period, with all the creek and river crossings this was a small boat war as well as a land battle and maritime affair.

The riflemen were incredibly more accurate  and shot longer ranges than the musketeers, they were usually long hunters recruited from the far edges of Virginia and the Carolinas. Once they gained notoriety for their long range sniping, George Washington started dressing non riflemen in the frocks to scare the British. 

Random Rudder Monday

24 Feb 24:

It's random rudder Monday! We're not sure what this goes to, it came with Grumman sailing canoe parts. Possibly it was being used as a leeboard? Any ideas?